Dessert

Use a small amount of buttercream to attach the ears and nose to face. Make sure you buy the large marshmallows that look as if they’ve been piped, with a soft tip at the top. Note

The trick to making a good pavlova is to ensure that the sugar is dissolved, otherwise it will weep. To check, rub a little meringue mixture between your fingers, it should feel smooth, not gritty, otherwise continue whisking. Note

Cut a 2.5cm piece from one half of the square cake and trim a 3.5cm piece from the jam roll. Assemble the cakes on the board to form the train; discard any remaining cake and jam roll. When it comes to eating this cake, remember that a small segment of stick is still embedded in […]

The creamed rice can be served warm or cold. You can substitute ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for the vanilla bean, if you prefer. Note

Dipped in melted chocolate, these crunchy biscuits taste excellent with a cup of hot coffee.

The ingredients can be swapped: cinnamon for cardamom, peaches and almonds for mango and pistachios, and orange for lime. Flan is best made on the day of serving. Note

Quick, easy and ever so slightly boozy, if you're looking for a dessert you can throw together quickly without sacrificing on flavour this caramelised pears on vanilla ice-cream recipe is perfect.

Drizzled in a sweet vanilla syrup and topped with fresh mint, these colourful citrus and yoghurt pots make a pretty dessert.

A spectacular dessert to produce at the end of a very special meal, prosecco and raspberry jellies sprinkled with gold leaf are perfectly pretty.

Lemony sponge pudding with a light, sweet meringue topping makes for a nostalgic, nursery-style pudding.

Layers of fluffy spiced tea cake and lashes of indulgent honey frosting create an utterly decadent dessert.

To cover pudding, layer a sheet of foil and baking paper together, large enough to cover the top generously. With paper lengthways in front of you, fold a vertical pleat; this will give the pudding space to rise. Note

These rich, fruity chocolate cherry meringue desserts are like little trifles with their layers of chocolate cake, custard, cherries and meringue.

Buy fresh filo from the refrigerated section of the supermarket as it is easier to work with than frozen filo pastry, which has a tendency to be brittle and crack. Note

With a crunchy gingernut base, this creamy slice will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Cardamom provides a unique and interesting flavour to this tropical fruit salad.

A healthier alternative to the classic apple pie.

They say when it comes to food, looks do matter. So try this nifty new look when next baking a loaf.

Pop the kettle on and enjoy a thick slice of this zesty buttermilk cake drizzled in lime syrup.

It’s worth taking the time to caramelise the apples to a deep caramel colour. It’s important to measure the closed springform pan; the measurement appearing on the base of the springform pan sometimes refers to the measurement of the pan when it is open. Note

To get the decorative effect on the top of the cake, place a paper doily on the cake and sprinkle ground cinnamon over the top. Carefully remove the doily from the top of the cake. Note

Thrill your child on their birthday with this adorable (and delicious) red fire engine cake.

Rich and decadent, you'll only need a small square of this lovely fudge to satisfy the sweetest of cravings. Enjoy with your afternoon cuppa.

We used two pear varieties, corella and beurre bosc as well as ladyfinger bananas, which are shorter and sweeter than the better-known Cavendish variety. Either type of banana can be used. Note

Try this tropical version of the French classic with melting vanilla ice-cream.

The clue is in the name. This is, no question, the ultimate berry trifle. It is perfect for any special occasion.

Flourless cake is a brilliant alternative for those of us who are sensitive or intolerant to gluten. This orange version tastes amazing and is cooked with almond meal, polenta and real oranges.

Passionfruit and raspberry make a heavenly pair in these light-as-air soufflés.

Sauce will keep for up to 2 weeks in a covered container in the refrigerator. Note

Nougat ice-cream is swirled with Turkish delight, pistachios and cranberries then drizzled in a raspberry sauce in this divine dessert.

This spiced walnut cake with a brandy syrup is rich with the fragrance of cloves, cinnamon and orange.

Drizzled in a hot lime syrup, this moist cake makes an excellent dessert served with cream and raspberries.

You simply can't beat homemade ice cream, and the tofu in this recipe enhances both the flavour and texture, for something even more special.

Keeping time: 2 days. Note

A piping bag — available from cookware shops — is a really handy thing to have. They are easy to use, much easier than you’d expect, and make the dividing up of a mixture into trays quick and efficient. Buy a few different sizes and shapes of tubes — you’ll be surprised how often you’ll […]

You can use fresh plums in this recipe if you prefer, just replace the plum juice with apple or pomegranate juice and poach the plums until they are very soft but not falling apart.

Tall 850ml (8cm x 17cm) (3-inch x 6¾-inch) fruit juice cans make good nut roll tins. Use a can opener that cuts just below the rims to cut one end from the can. Wash and dry the can thoroughly before greasing well. Use a double-thickness of foil to cover the top of the can and […]

This decadent cheesecake has a chocolate cookie crust, creamy filling with roasted pecans and a sweet butterscotch topping. Delicious with a glass of cold milk.

Nobody was terribly surprised when this pistachio buttercake with orange honey syrup made the Australian Women's Weekly's Top 10 cakes list.

Rich and creamy, this black forest cheesecake is stuffed with juicy cherries and comes with a beautiful chocolate crust. Sinful indulgence at its best.

The classic flavours of chocolate, strawberry and hazelnut come together in this mouth-watering gateau. Just add a steaming cup of coffee and the our day is made.

The Weekly's Top 10 cakes - Number 3

Lemon lime polenta self-saucing pudding

Nutty butterscotch and creamy bananas are a match made in heaven. Put them together in a pudding and you've got yourself culinary divinity.

Three year olds love nursery rhymes, and even though the mice are clearly not blind , they're having fun finding the cheese.

Quick and delicious cinnamon brandy snaps with orange cream from Australian Women's Weekly.

A crostata is a type of rustic Italian free-form tart, the beauty of which is that it requires no special pan for baking.

If you like your cakes with a little bit of tartness to them, then this surely is the cake for you. The deep red top presents beautifully, too.

Home-made icing

Granny Smith apples are crisp, juicy and tart, which makes them versatile in cooking and perfect for baking in pies, sauces and puddings, such as in this classic dish.

Get the kids busy in the kitchen with these adorable kitty cat cupcakes.

Equipment; 5cm (2-inch) square cutter buckle template; 4 paper piping bags; 16 plain yellow paper cases; 5cm (2-inch) square cutter buckle template; 4 paper piping bags; 16 plain yellow paper cases. The squares of icing and the buckles can be made at least two weeks ahead. Make a few more buckles to allow for breakages. […]

Impress your guests with these scrumptious banana and caramel cakes from Australian Women's Weekly.

26cm x 35cm (10¼-inch x 14-inch) baking dish; 6-hole (¾-cup/180ml texas muffin pan; 30cm x 40cm (12-inch x 16-inch) rectangular cake board. 10 white chocolate Melts; 3 rainbow sour straps; ½ cup (135g) blue jellybeans. A cake for budding gardeners. Note

These gorgeous miniature berry and rhubarb pies are perfect for a morning or afternoon treat, or a decadent dessert with vanilla ice-cream.

Brought to you by the classic Australian Women's Weekly children's birthday cake cookbook.

Recipe can be made up to 1 week in advance. White chocolate and white chocolate melts are suitable to microwave. Note

Filled with a crunchy fruit and almond stuffing, these wholesome baked apples are perfect for both dessert and breakfast.

Thrill the kids with these easy hot-pink cupcakes topped with Jaffas.

There is a place for store bought pastry and custard, but sometimes a sweet dish just deserves the homemade versions. This is one of those dishes.

Some flavours make a natural marriage, and pear and chocolate is one of those gorgeous pairings. These whole poached pears with chocolate cream are simple, elegant and delicious.

Oranges, orange liqueur and Christmas cake form the basis of this incredibly quick and simple ice-cream terrine.

The perfect balance of sweet and tart, this sticky dessert is perfect for those who want to delight their guests. The added ingredient of cardamom provides unique flavour and spice that'll have people begging for more.

If you're new to gluten-free baking, make sure that you purchase pure icing sugar and not icing mixture, as the latter has gluten added.

These little morsels only improve with time.Make 1 or 2 days ahead. Use rounded ice-cube trays if possible as the ice-cream blocks will unmould more easily.You can also make this as a log. Place ice-cream mixture in a bar cake pan lined with baking paper.Once frozen, place on a wire rack and drizzle with melted […]

If you want to add something extra to this dish, add a shot of orange-flavoured liqueur to the caramelised oranges, just stir through while they're cooling.

Equipment 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) shallow round-based patty pan 12-hole (¹/³-cup/80ml) standard muffin pan 6-hole (¾-cup/180ml) texas muffin pan 4cm-round cutter 2 strong wooden toothpicks 40cm-round or 40cm x 45cm rectangle prepared cake board Little girls love tea parties ­ the whole party could be themed this way. The cakes are not difficult to make, but they […]

Filled with hazelnut praline cream, this stunning sponge is perfect for a special occasion.

Wondering what to bring to a morning tea? This cake will impress everyone.

For a delightful afternoon treat, serve this cake with butter for spreading and a pot of tea.

Blood orange is a virtually seedless citrus fruit with blood-red rind and flesh; it has a sweet, non-acidic pulp and juice with slight strawberry or raspberry overtones.

Coconut oil is a solidified oil sold in jars and is available from major supermarkets and health food stores. Melt coconut oil as you would butter, either in a small saucepan over low heat or in the microwave. Cherries are rich in vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. While fresh is best, if they […]

Your reputation as a cake-maker will reach giddy heights when you show off this cake. The stars are incredibly simple to make and look really effective. Note

Candied clementines are available from specialty food stores and delicatessens. Note